SitcomsOnline.com Special: Networks Selling Out? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Television · 07-06-2007, 06:23 PM

[QUOTE=crusty]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

If you don't like it, drop the cable package. Enough people drop the package and your cable company will drop the channel to the digital tier or off their lineup entirely. At that point the network's household availability drops.
[quote/]

You seem to forget, that dropping individual channels is not an option with most major cable providers. Therefore, for the time being we are stuck paying for cable channels we do not want.

Exactly. I wish their was a system in place where the public could only get the channels they want.

Attmay · 07-06-2007, 06:29 PM

Some things to keep in mind...

—The Price is Right is extremely popular in college dormitories, yet all the commercials are for products that appeal to older people because Nielsen doesn't measure dorms.
—The average age in this country is 36. Yet advertisers only go after the 18-34 demographic. Heck, I'm IN that demographic and I couldn't care less about a lot of the stuff they expect me to like. Still, advertisers have spent too much time catering (some would say pandering) to the under 35ers that they've systematically ignored the growing segment of people over 35.

I think the people in television aren't making TV for the audience anymore; they're trying to impress critics and their supercilious pseudo-intellectual friends. The executives need to remember that they are not the audience.

They've become so obsessed with the bottom line that they forget about what goes into it.

Of course, I do not watch N@N, TVL, etc. because they show cut episodes of TV series. I just wait for the DVDs. That's another thing to consider. Fans of a show no longer have to wait for some of them to come back to TV to get their fix. There's DVD, there are those who taped the shows already and watch it from their tapes, and there is of course another reason reruns disappeared from local stations: infomercials. Nobody watches them, but stations get paid to air them. Then there's talk shows. These are original shows and therefore get more ad rates than reruns. Even though these "old" shows are new to new generations of audiences who are starving for good entertainment.

The problem with TV Land is that it is a graveyard for classic TV. Once they air a show no one else will touch it because "only the old geezers like it." They have turned classic TV into an undesirable niche.

This whole "don't trust anyone over 30" stuff should have gone out with bell bottoms. I think the Chinese have it better in the fact that they revere their elders.

crusty · 07-06-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attmay

I think the people in television aren't making TV for the audience anymore; they're trying to impress critics and their supercilious pseudo-intellectual friends. The executives need to remember that they are not the audience.

They've become so obsessed with the bottom line that they forget about what goes into it.

Good point!

Chelsea · 07-06-2007, 06:45 PM

I didn't say drop the channel, I said drop the package. If the channel bothers you that badly, no sense spending money on a channel package. If not that badly, just don't watch the channel.

Mr. Television · 07-06-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth

I didn't say drop the channel, I said drop the package. If the channel bothers you that badly, no sense spending money on a channel package. If not that badly, just don't watch the channel.

Except if you drop the package you'll probably lose another channel you want. That's the way they got it set up. So basically I just don't watch them.

Chelsea · 07-06-2007, 07:12 PM

I should mention that the specific rant you saw today is...sort of tape-delayed. I wrote that a month ago, after a couple of really bad days with a person (not here) trying to assign human qualities to a TV network. That's what really spawned the rant. I adapted it after seeing a few people talking about selling out, and boom.

Raisingdad2004 · 07-06-2007, 07:16 PM

It is selling out but thats what business do! If they didn't sell (out) airtime, they wouldn't be able to afford even the least popular show.

I have no doubts the rating system is flawed to an extent but a station fulfilling popular demand isn't wrong ... its simply the best way we have. Heck, for good or bad, thats the way we all elect politicians!

I think in the age of VOD and DVRs, the stations could do better to please more people ... there are some shows I like which never get marathons but some stations here put them on late at night, from 1AM to 5AM there are some gems that most people wouldn't like - I DVR them and watch them in my primetime!

Ireneparalegal · 07-06-2007, 07:23 PM

Thank you Seth for responding to my part of the post abt the snail mail and the response the audience gives to the networks.

Jericho is a great example of a show that was retained due to SNAIL MAIL. I would think that E-MAIL would be just as good, considering that it is an easier method to which one could get their point across.

Family Guy is another example of a show returning, not from SNAIL MAIL, NOR FROM EMAILS, NOR FROM NIELSEN, it came from DVD SALES. DVD Sales of Family Guy was enormous. The networks realized what a gem they had and lost and decided to bring it back. I FOR ONE WAS ECSTATIC!!!!!

If that method (DVD Sales) of getting a point across worked, than all methods of telling the networks what shows people want to watch should be considered.

There was a few other shows that were brought back, what were they?

Raisingdad2004 · 07-06-2007, 07:26 PM

I think Touched by an Angel was brought back by snail mail ... but I have a feeling the Christian Conservative movement had a part in it, makes sense really.

crusty · 07-06-2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raisingdad2004

I think Touched by an Angel was brought back by snail mail...but I have a feeling the Christian Conservative movement had a part in it, makes sense really.

I seriously doubt many Christians like that show. I personally believe the devil masterminded that show as a form of unholy torture.

Ireneparalegal · 07-06-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crusty

I seriously doubt many Christians like that show. I personally believe the devil masterminded that show as a form of unholy torture.

And your small point is?

JulieSomoski · 07-06-2007, 07:59 PM

It was really well put when you gave us the whole Fresh Prince/Murphy Brown example, because how do we really know the number of people who watch these shows? Murphy Brown could be getting a lot more viewers than known, or Fresh Prince could be getting a lot less viewers than known, because if you don't have a Nielson box, then what's the point of even watching?

Plus, how does Fresh Prince continually get that good of ratings? There is no way possible that people repetitively watch the show over and over, airing after airing? It used to be one of my favorite shows when it came to NAN, but now I don't even dare to watch it, and I'm for sure not the only one.

Ireneparalegal · 07-06-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

It was really well put when you gave us the whole Fresh Prince/Murphy Brown example, because how do we really know the number of people who watch these shows? Murphy Brown could be getting a lot more viewers than known, or Fresh Prince could be getting a lot less viewers than known, because if you don't have a Nielson box, then what's the point of even watching?

Plus, how does Fresh Prince continually get that good of ratings? There is no way possible that people repetitively watch the show over and over, airing after airing? It used to be one of my favorite shows when it came to NAN, but now I don't even dare to watch it, and I'm for sure not the only one.

I asked that same question a short time back on a certain thread abt WHO ACTUALLY LOVES/WATCHES Fresh Prince. It seemed from the people who responded that the majority DON'T LIKE IT. Because that question was a post and NOT A THREAD, I would like to see a poll on this board so we can see a bigger picture of who really actually watches it on N&N.

JulieSomoski · 07-06-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I asked that same question a short time back on a certain thread abt WHO ACTUALLY LOVES/WATCHES Fresh Prince. It seemed from the people who responded that the majority DON'T LIKE IT. Because that question was a post and NOT A THREAD, I would like to see a poll on this board so we can see a bigger picture of who really actually watches it on N&N.

I'll get to work on it!

Ireneparalegal · 07-06-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

I'll get to work on it!

Great!

07-06-2007, 06:45 PM	#19
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	I didn't say drop the channel, I said drop the package. If the channel bothers you that badly, no sense spending money on a channel package. If not that badly, just don't watch the channel.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

07-06-2007, 07:23 PM	#23
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Thank you Seth for responding to my part of the post abt the snail mail and the response the audience gives to the networks. Jericho is a great example of a show that was retained due to SNAIL MAIL. I would think that E-MAIL would be just as good, considering that it is an easier method to which one could get their point across. Family Guy is another example of a show returning, not from SNAIL MAIL, NOR FROM EMAILS, NOR FROM NIELSEN, it came from DVD SALES. DVD Sales of Family Guy was enormous. The networks realized what a gem they had and lost and decided to bring it back. I FOR ONE WAS ECSTATIC!!!!! If that method (DVD Sales) of getting a point across worked, than all methods of telling the networks what shows people want to watch should be considered. There was a few other shows that were brought back, what were they?
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

07-06-2007, 07:59 PM	#27
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	It was really well put when you gave us the whole Fresh Prince/Murphy Brown example, because how do we really know the number of people who watch these shows? Murphy Brown could be getting a lot more viewers than known, or Fresh Prince could be getting a lot less viewers than known, because if you don't have a Nielson box, then what's the point of even watching? Plus, how does Fresh Prince continually get that good of ratings? There is no way possible that people repetitively watch the show over and over, airing after airing? It used to be one of my favorite shows when it came to NAN, but now I don't even dare to watch it, and I'm for sure not the only one.
	__________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

07-06-2007, 06:29 PM	#17
Attmay Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 06, 2000 Posts: 137	Some things to keep in mind... —The Price is Right is extremely popular in college dormitories, yet all the commercials are for products that appeal to older people because Nielsen doesn't measure dorms. —The average age in this country is 36. Yet advertisers only go after the 18-34 demographic. Heck, I'm IN that demographic and I couldn't care less about a lot of the stuff they expect me to like. Still, advertisers have spent too much time catering (some would say pandering) to the under 35ers that they've systematically ignored the growing segment of people over 35. I think the people in television aren't making TV for the audience anymore; they're trying to impress critics and their supercilious pseudo-intellectual friends. The executives need to remember that they are not the audience. They've become so obsessed with the bottom line that they forget about what goes into it. Of course, I do not watch N@N, TVL, etc. because they show cut episodes of TV series. I just wait for the DVDs. That's another thing to consider. Fans of a show no longer have to wait for some of them to come back to TV to get their fix. There's DVD, there are those who taped the shows already and watch it from their tapes, and there is of course another reason reruns disappeared from local stations: infomercials. Nobody watches them, but stations get paid to air them. Then there's talk shows. These are original shows and therefore get more ad rates than reruns. Even though these "old" shows are new to new generations of audiences who are starving for good entertainment. The problem with TV Land is that it is a graveyard for classic TV. Once they air a show no one else will touch it because "only the old geezers like it." They have turned classic TV into an undesirable niche. This whole "don't trust anyone over 30" stuff should have gone out with bell bottoms. I think the Chinese have it better in the fact that they revere their elders.

07-06-2007, 07:12 PM	#21
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	I should mention that the specific rant you saw today is...sort of tape-delayed. I wrote that a month ago, after a couple of really bad days with a person (not here) trying to assign human qualities to a TV network. That's what really spawned the rant. I adapted it after seeing a few people talking about selling out, and boom.

07-06-2007, 07:16 PM	#22
Raisingdad2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 05, 2004 Posts: 715	It is selling out but thats what business do! If they didn't sell (out) airtime, they wouldn't be able to afford even the least popular show. I have no doubts the rating system is flawed to an extent but a station fulfilling popular demand isn't wrong ... its simply the best way we have. Heck, for good or bad, thats the way we all elect politicians! I think in the age of VOD and DVRs, the stations could do better to please more people ... there are some shows I like which never get marathons but some stations here put them on late at night, from 1AM to 5AM there are some gems that most people wouldn't like - I DVR them and watch them in my primetime!

07-06-2007, 07:26 PM	#24
Raisingdad2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 05, 2004 Posts: 715	I think Touched by an Angel was brought back by snail mail ... but I have a feeling the Christian Conservative movement had a part in it, makes sense really.